Controlling means for electric circuits.



G. A. BURNHAM. CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

APPLIOATIQN FILED DEC. 22, 1911. 1,029,974, Patented June 18, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. A. BURNHAM. CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 22, 1911.

1,029,974, Patented June 18, 1912.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

tungsten lamp.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. BURNHAM, 0F SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SEARS B. CONDIT, JR., OF BBOOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1912;

Application filed Iiecember 22, 1911. Serial No. 667,320.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnoncn A. BURNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saugus, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Controlling Means for Electric Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

In many places where arc lamps are employed for street-lighting, there is a demand for incandescent lamps for street-lighting, particularly since the innovation of the This demand is usually local. To satisfy this local demand it has been customary to run circuits from the 1 transformers which happen to be located in the vicinity of the demand, or to install transformers in case there are none in the vicinity, thus to supply current to the lamps from a distributing or other station. Much trouble and expense is involved in controlling these local lamp-circuits as some means must be provided for closing and opening them at the proper times to turn on and oil the lamps. Time-switches have been employed for this purpose, also switches requiring the attendance of a man to operate them, and also remote -control switches which are adapted to be operated from the station but which require additional circuit wires. All of these well known controllingmeans are expensive, the cost of installation and maintenance or the cost of the attendance making up a large item of expense which in the aggregate is burdensome.

This invention has for its object the production of controlling-means for electric circuits especially designed to meet this difiiculty, which is not expensive to install or maintain, is not liable to get out of order and may be operated from the station.

The arc-lamps are usually arranged in series relation in a constant current circuit or a rectified current circuit, the latter, so far as the present invention is concerned, being considered the equivalent of a constant current circuit, and the incandescent lamps are arranged in multiple relation in a constant potential circuit, and both circuits derive their current from an alternating current circuit. Both lamp circuits are open when not in use, and a switch is provided for closing and opening the constant current circuit for the purpose of turning on and cit the lamps which are connected therein.

The controlling-means embodying this invention is especially provided for the constant potential circuit, and is adapted to be operated to close and open said circuit to turn on and 0d the lamps connected therein; and another object of this invention is the provision of controlling-means for the constant potential circuit, which is connected with the constant current circuit and is adapted to be operated by the constant current to close the constant potential circuit and turn on the lamps, and is adaptedto be operated by a current of a different character to open the constant potential circuit to turn off the lamp. As an alternating current is conveniently at hand, this current will be employed as a current of (liiterent character, to thus operate the controlling-means to open the constant potential circuit.- Employing currents of ditlerent character to operate the controlling-means, respectively, to close and open the constant potential circuit, insures positive operation, enables it to be under the control of the attendant at the station at all times, and is of a decided advantageover the employment of a current to operate the controlling-means to close the constant potential circuit, and no current to operate it to open said circuit for the reason that it is not sensitive to the flashing on momentary interruption of the constant current circuit.

Another object of the invention is the construction of the controlling-means hav ng an electromagnetic operating-device whlch is operated by a constant current to close the switch, and when thus operated its electromagnet becomes saturated and will operate to hold its armature in attracted position by residual magnetism for a long period of time or until demagnetized by a current of a different character, whereupon its armature is released and permitted to retract, so that the switch will remain closed even though the controlling-circuit is opened momentarily or for a reasonable length of time and until the controlling-means is operated by a current of a difierent character.

Another object of the invention is the provision of manual means to open the switch of the controlling-means.

Figure 1 is a diagram ota portion of a system of electrical distrrbut-lonhavinglamp circuits and controlling-means embodylngthis invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal ver- 11, 12 and 13 its busv bars, 15 an induction-.

motor connected with the bus bars 11, 12 and 13. 16 a constant current generator driven by said motor; 17 a lamp-circuit connected with said generator having a mainswitch 18 to close and open it to turn on and oif the lamps. As here shown are lamps 19 are arranged in series relation in said lampcircuit, but so far as the present invention is concerned any othenform of translatingdevices may be arranged therein. The term lampcircuit is herein employed merely as a designated term. According to the spirit of my invention as hereinillustrated the arc-lamps are designed for street-lighting purposes. 25 represents another circuit which is of constant potential, it leading from the bus bars, and said constant potential circuit has arranged in it transformers 26, 27, any suitable number being employed. Ordinarily the transformers, as 26, areemployed for house lighting purposes, being in use at the present time. For the purpose of illustration it is assumed that there is a local demand for incandescent street lamps,

such for instance, as tungsten lamps, at two different places, and at one of these places a transformer as 26 is already installed, but atthe other place there is no transformer, hence the transformer 27 is installed. The

secondaries of both transformers have con stant potential lamp-circuits connected with them and herein the transformer 26 has two such circuits as 30 and 31, the circuit 30 presumably being extended-throughout a building and the circuit 31 being arranged for street'lighting purposes and .having lamps 32 arranged in multiple relation therein.

.Herein the transformer 27 has but one lamp circuit 33 connected with its secondary, .said circuit having lamps 34 arranged therein in multiple relation. Controlling-means embodying this invention is arranged in con-- .nection with each local lamp-circuit 31 and 33, and each controlling-means is connectedwith the constant current circuit 17 to be controlled by it. Said controlling-means will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, 40, 40, represent the stationary members and 41 the movable member of a switch which is provided for closing and opening the constant potential circuit 31 or 33, but it is obvious'that in lieu thereof, so far as this invention is concerned, any suitable form'of switch may be employed. 45 represents a pivoted actuating-lever for the movable member of said switch, adapted for movement up and down to move the switchi member forward on its pivot 42, and permit movement of said member in the opposite direction by means of a spring 43. Said actuating-lever is connected with the core or armature 46 of a solenoid or other form of electro-magnet 47, which is adapted to be connected in the constant current circuit 1'7. Said solenoid or magnet has at its upper end a soft iron or other magnetizable plug-48, which closes the upper end of its tubular bore, preferably projecting a short distance thereinto, so that the core'46, when attracted will be moved into engagement with it. Said plug may have a vent hole through it.

In operation when the constant current circuit 17 is closed by switch 18, and the lamps therein turned on, the current passes through the solenoid and its core is attracted to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the switch-member 4.1 is moved to engage the members 40, thus to close the constant potential circuit. The constant current acts to magnetically saturate the solenoid and core, so that, even though the switch 18 of the constant current circuit is openedsaid core will remain in attracted position, being held by residual magnetism, and the switch 40, 41, will remain closed. This capability of the solenoid to hold its core for a period of time and thus to hold the switch 40, 41, closed in case the constant current circuit is opened, is of vital importance, as while thus held it is not responsive to .tlashings or other momentary or reasonable interruptions of the constant current circuit, as a result of whichthe continuity of the constant potential circuit is maintained regard less of interruptions in the constant current circuit. The ordinary solenoid of commerce does not possess this capability. hen it is desired to open the constant potential circuit to turn off the lamps a current of a diiferent character is passed through the solenoid core or armature to retract. For this purose, as here shown, the alternating current at the station is employed, it being conveniently at hand, and, as shown in Fig. 1, a transformer 50 is connected .with the alternating current circuit, from the secondary of contacts 52, 52 at their ends suitably 'supported in insulating hand-pieces, and the in engagement with the opposite sides of the switch 18, or other terminals of the circuit 17, and the alternating current then passes over the circuit 17, and the solenoid connected therein is immediately demagnetized, resulting in the switch-member 41 being permitted to move away from the switch-member 40 to open the constant potential circuit. It will thus be observed that the controllingmeans for the constant. potential circuit is operated by the closing of the switch 18 to which a pair of leads 51, 51, extend, having which acts to demagnetize it, to permit its attendant at the station places these contacts close the constant potential circuit, thereby to turn on the lamps or other translating devices therein, a constant currentbeing employed for this purpose, and is operated by the engagement of the contacts 52, 52, with terminals of the circuit 17 to open the constant potential circuit, thereby to turn off the lamps or other translating devices therein, a current'of a different character being employed for this purpose.

In case the lamps were omitted from the circuit 17, said circuit would still serve as a control circuit for the controlling-mmins, and the operation of the controlling-means in such case would be as above described.

Manual means are also provided for moving the actuating-lever 45 to open the switch which may be employed if desired, and herein a vertically disposed rod 60 is arranged to slide in bearings provided for it in the top of the case containing the controlling-means, the lower end of which terminates above the actuating-lever 45 and upon depression of said rod its lower end will engage the ac tuating-lever and move it in a direction to permit the switch to open. As the actuating-lever 45 is connected with the core of the solenoid it will be understood that considerable force is required to depress it against the pull of the residual magnetism by which it is held.

The switch and electro-magnetic operating means therefor, herein disclosed, form the'subject-matter of a divisional application Serial No. 690,706 filed April 15, 1912.

1. The combination of two circuits, a switch to control one of said circuits, electromagnetic means arranged in the other circuit and responsive to a current of one character to close the switch and responsive to a current of another character to open the switch, substantially as described.

2. The combination of two circuits, a switch to control one of said circuits, electromagnetic means arranged in the other circuit and responsive to a current of one character to close the switch and to hold said switch closed after said current is removed and responsive to a current of another character to open said switch, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a constant current circuit and a constant potential circuit, a sw tch to control said constant potential circu1t, electro-magnetic means arranged in the constant current circuit and responsive to a current of one character to close the switch and to a current of another character to open the switch, substantially as described.

The combination of two circuits, a switch to control one of said circuits and an electro-magnet-ic operating-device for said switch controlled by the other circuit and energized by a current of one character to of the controlled-circuit during periods of interruption of the controlling-circuit, and deenergized by a current of another character to open the switch, substantially'as described. Y

The combination of two circuits,-a switch to control one of said circuits, an electro-magnetic operating-device for said switch controlled by the other circuit and energized by a currentof one character to close the switch and deiinergized by a current of another character to open the switch, said device having means whereby its magnetic-circuit remains closed in case the controlling-circuit is interrupted, thus n1ain tainiug the continuity of the controlled-circuit, substantially as described.

6. The combination of two circuits, a switch to control one of said circuits and an electroahagnetic operating-device for said switch controlled by the other circuit and energized by a current of one character to close the switch and to hold the switch closed in case its controlling-oircuit is interrupted, thereby to maintain the continuity of the controlled-circuit during periods of interruption of the controlling-circuit, and deenergized by a current of another character to open the switch, and also having manual means to restore it andv open the switch, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a constant current circuit and a constant potential circuit, a

switch to control said constant potential circuit, electro-magnetic means controlled by the constant current circuit and operated by the constant current to close said switch and operated by a current of a different character to open said switch, substantially as described. Y

8. The combination of a constant current circuit and a constant potential circu1t, a switch to control said constant potential circuit, an electro-magnetic operating-device for said switch connected with the constant current circuit whereby it is operated by a constant current to close the switch, and means to circulate a current of a dittcrent character over said circuit to operate the switch to open the circuit, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a constant current circuit and a constant potential circuit, a switch to control said constant potential circuit, an electro-magnetic operating-device for said switch connected with the constant current circuit whereby it is operated by a constant current to close the switch, and means to circulate an alternating current over said circuit to operate said device to open the switch, substantially. as described.

10. The combination of a lamp-circuit containing lamps arranged in series relation and another lamp-circuit containing "lamps arranged in multiple relation, a

adapted to be operated to close the switch by' the current employed to operate the lamps therein and adapted to be operated to open the switch by a current of a different character, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a lamp-circuit containing lamps arranged in series relation and another lamp-circuit containing lamps arranged in multiple relation, a switch to close said last named circuit, an electro-magnetic controller for said switch arranged in the first named circuit and adapted to be operated to close the switch by the current employed to operate the lamps-therein, and means to disconnect said first named circuit from its supply and to connect it with a circuit having a current of a; different character, therebyto operate said switch-controller to open the switch, substantially as described.

12. The combination of a lamp-circuit containing lamps arranged in series relation and another lamp-circuit containinglamps arranged in multiple relation, a switch to close said last named circuit, an electromagnetic controller for said switch arranged in the first named circuit and adapted to be operated to close the switch by the current employed to operate the lamps therein and adapted'to be operated to open the switch by a current of a different character, said switch-controller holding the switch closed in case the first named circuit is interrupted, thereby to maintain the continuity of the last named circuit during periods of interruption of the first named circuit, substantially as described.

13. The combination of a constant current circuit and a constant potential circuit, a switch to control saidconstant potential circuit, electro-magnetic means controlled by the constant current circuit to close the switch andvto hold said switch closed by residual magnetism, regardless of interruptions in said constant current circuit, and means to restore said electro-magnetic means and open the switch, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a constant current circuit and a constant potential circuit, a switch to control said constant potential circuit, electro-magnetic means controlled by the constant current circuit to close the switch and to hold the switch closed by residual magnetism, regardless of interruptions in said constant potential circuit, means to deenergize said electro-magnetic means to restore it and open the switch, and manual means to also restore said electromagnetic means and open the switch, sub.- stantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. BURNHAM.

Witnesses:

B. J. NoYEs, H. B. Davis, 

